WOOING Israel Folau, Kiwi whiz Nehe Milner-Skudder and 300 of their closest rugby pals for a ten-a-side spectacle in Brisbane is way more complex than organising a heavyweight world title fight.
Delighted organisers are gung-ho that the Brisbane Global Rugby Tens can deliver just as much punch at Suncorp Stadium with a festive two-day carnival of footy and off-field fanfare.
It is not hyperbole to trumpet next weekend’s extravaganza of 28 matches over two days as rugby’s biggest concentration of talent in Australia since the 2003 World Cup.
This is no vague one-off gamble that disappears forever after the jousting of 14 top-tier teams from six nations to produce one winner in Sunday’s final.
Tourism and Events Queensland and Brisbane Marketing are backing the vision of organisers Duco Events to entrench the event as rugby’s high-charged season lift-off for the next four years.
“It’s going to be a helluva big party, a great celebration of rugby for fans and players” Duco Events director Dean Lonergan said.
Ticket sales already point to crowds of 30,000-plus on each day so high is the starpower and curiosity factor for fans eager for their first footy fix of the year.
Wallabies weapon Folau scored more tries (11) in Super Rugby last year than any other player when up against 15 defenders so you can guess how potent he’ll be against 10.
“It’s a total change-up with 10-a-side, short stints (10-minute halves), plenty of space to run and some mystery with how teams are going to play,” Folau said.
“The forwards are talking up playing on the edges and scoring tries because there is still a part for the big boys in Tens with (five-man) scrums and lineouts.
“I get my excitement in cricket from watching T20 rather than five days (of Test cricket) and I think the short form will be fun and the skill level will be really high.
“What I know about Suncorp Stadium, the fans will love it.”
Just how much effort, negotiating skill, relentless dreaming and scissoring of red tape it has taken to get to kick-off shows that the Global Tens mean business.
The innovative tournament has been more than three years in the planning and it took a stealth flight to France to hook European giants Toulon, James O’Connor and a star cast.
Complex? Try getting the tick from the governing bodies of Australia, New Zealand and SANZAAR, promises to field top players, the approval of 10 Aussie and Kiwi clubs and signing Toulon, Samoa, South Africa’s Blue Bulls and Japan’s Wild Knights. Phew.
Duco Events staged a heavyweight world title fight in Auckland last December which proved a stunning coronation for Kiwi boxer Joseph Parker.
“This is a monster by comparison with the level of complexity to get to a point where we’ll have a truckload of fantastic players scoring lots of tries for 30,000-plus fans,” Lonergan said.
I was definitely one of the early sceptics who pondered whether this would be a tinpot tournament with no meaning, few stars, haphazard interest from clubs and merely sevens rugby in drag.
Wrong on all counts.
Rugby in Australia has craved a big-bang opening for years and the code finally has one with the Tens which will also promote Super Rugby’s imminent kick-off later this month.
The Kiwi and Aussie side are all using the Tens as invaluable tuning for Super Rugby because there is nothing like making a big play under real game pressure. The roll call of stars and those of the future is impressive and every avid Kiwi rugby follower in southeast Queensland should be at Suncorp Stadium to support their team.
The champion Hurricanes will welcome back zip-zip man Nehe Milner-Skudder and his electrifying footwork outside Jordie Barrett, a 19-year-old centre with the right genes.
The kid brother of All Blacks ace Beauden Barrett is a class act himself and typical of the rising stars the Tens will also showcase.
10 players to watch at the Tens
Israel Folau (Waratahs)
Izzy is a handful in every form of the game. He broke 65 tackles when stepping, gliding and long-striding in attack for his 11 tries during last year’s Super Rugby season. He’s a hard guy to stop and harder still to prevent from off-loading. Star power, try power.
Nehe Milner-Skudder (Hurricanes)
The sidestepping sizzle on the wing for the All Blacks in the run to their 2015 World Cup triumph. The gifted attacker is eager to make his mark after 11 months on the sidelines since shoulder surgery. A certain crowd favourite and an early tip for most tries.
Taniela Nupou (Reds)
Unlike sevens, the 10-a-side game has a place for the big boppers and they don’t come bigger than 129kg “Tongan Thor”. He has explosive speed and leg drive to smash through tackles as a real weapon. The prop might also run the ball back as a sneaky second fullback.
George Moala (Blues)
An athletic, physical 99kg centre, he’ll be breaking tackles to put the slick Blues finishers into the clear. Has played four Tests for the All Blacks and has all the attributes to play many more. A big hope in the Blues’ revival plans this year.
Sefa naivalu (Rebels)
An eye-catching find for the Wallabies last year. Has real jet shoes and haven’t the Wallabies needed to find some on the wing. He ran 10.5sec as a schoolboy over 100m and you won’t catch him when he winds up a big finish in open space from 50m out. High workrate is impressive too.
Digby Ioane (Crusaders)
This will be the first hitout for Ioane in the red-and-black of his new team after signing from Japan’s Honda Heat. The former Reds matchwinner is still sure to be a crowd favourite with his Suncorp Stadium fans. It will be interesting to see if he’s lost any pace or leg-pumping impact since he played for the Reds in 2013.
James O’connor (Toulon)
Has rediscovered his mojo and added a few more hairstyles with his French club since a modest campaign with the Reds in 2015. He has put the knee troubles of that year behind him. Will inject plenty of dash and footwork to win the one-on-one battles in attack.
Tim Nanai-Williams (Chiefs)
A classy attacker with a step, an uncanny presence to back up breaks and a neat knack to chip kick-and-regather. The Samoan Test back is a dynamic factor for the Chiefs in a backline full of natural ball-running and off-loading. A danger player for a danger team.
Isi Naisarani (Force)
An unheralded find. Isi is the long-striding No.8 who made a big mark with Souths and Brisbane City in Queensland last year. He’s just 21 but with the 110kg frame and a lust for running to make a big mark here and in Super Rugby.
Liam Messam (Chiefs)
With 43 All Blacks Test caps, 146 Super Rugby caps for the Chiefs and two Commonwealth Games gold medals to his credit, Messam is still a force at 32. The dynamic backrower has an ideal skill set for Tens.
